Oscar Smith defeats Centreville in championship game

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Group AAA state championship games on Cox 11

If you can't make it to Charlottesville for the Group AAA Division 5 or 6 state title games, you can see the games live at Cox 11.

The Phoebus-South Country game begins at noon, followed by the Oscar Smith-Centreville game at 4 p.m.

If you can't see the game live or on television then get live updates at www.757teamz.com

 

Gilman: Oscar Smith's first foe finishes 10-1

Before Oscar Smith plays its final game of the season, a look back at its first opponent ...

Gilman School of Maryland topped Oscar Smith 51-27 in the teams' season opener in Baltimore.

Since then, Gilman - led by top recruit Cyrus Jones - won nine of 10 games and claimed the MIAA A Conference championship. The Greyhounds lost 26-21 a week after beating Oscar Smith, then rattled off nine consecutive victories.

Gilman also finished as the top-ranked team in the Baltimore Sun's coverage area.

Jones, a WR/DB, finished with 2,365 all-purpose yards and scored 24 touchdowns. According to the Baltimore Sun, Jones is a five-star recruit considering scholarship offers Ohio State, Alabama, Auburn, Maryland and Virginia Tech.

Oscar Smith, meanwhile, has won 13 consecutive games since that opening loss and plays Centreville at 4 p.m. Saturday at U.Va. in the Group AAA Division 6 state championship game.

- Jami Frankenberry

State semifinal pairings/times

FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

All games are Saturday.

Group AAA

Division 6 semifinals

Oscar Smith (12-1) at Battlefield (10-2), 2:30 p.m.

Centreville (12-1) at Hermitage (12-0), 1:30 p.m.

Division 5 semifinals

North Stafford (10-2) vs. Phoebus (11-2), 1:30 p.m. at Darling Stadium, Hampton.

Hanover (10-2) at South County (10-3), 4 p.m.

Group AA

Division 4 semifinals

Briar Woods (12-1) at Grafton (9-3), 4 p.m.

Christiansburg (11-1) at Broadway (12-0), 2 p.m.

Division 3 semifinals

James Monroe (12-0) at Kettle Run (13-0), 1:30 p.m.

Brookeville (12-0) at Cave Spring (9-3), 1 p.m.

Group A

Division 2 semifinals

Amelia (12-1) at Gretna (11-2), 1:30 p.m.

Wilson Memorial (11-2) at Goochland (12-0), 2 p.m.

Division 1 semifinals

Central-Lunenburg (10-3) at Galax (13-0), 2 p.m.

Clintwood (11-2) at Sussex Central (12-1), 1:30 p.m.

Live updates | Norcom vs. Phoebus

We're going to be at Darling Stadium in Hampton bringing you live updates from the Phoebus vs. Norcom game. Tune in for the game at 7:30 p.m.

Eastern Region championship updates

A big weekend of high school football starts today when Oscar Smith plays Salem at 7:30 at the Virginia Beach Sportplex for the Eastern District Region Division 6 championship. Norcom plays Phoebus at 7:30 p.m. Staurday at Darling Stadium in Hampton. View the results of this game here.

Live Chat at 12:30 p.m.

We'll be holding a live chat to talk about the high school football playoffs today. Join us at 12:30 p.m.

This week's Eastern Region, VISAA playoff schedule

Larry Rubama and Jami Frankenberry will hold a live chat this Thursday at 12:30 p.m. Join them at www.757teamz.com.

This week's games

Eastern Region Division 6 semifinals

Friday

Grassfield at Oscar Smith, 7:30 p.m.

Bayside at Salem, 7:30 p.m.

Eastern Region Division 5 semifinals

Phoebus at Lake Taylor, 7:30 p.m.

Norcom vs. Hampton at Darling Stadium, 7:30 p.m. 

VISAA State Championship Games

Division I

Friday

St. Christopher’s at Liberty Christian, 7:30, p.m.

Division II

Saturday

Potomac at Christchurch, 1:00 p.m.

Division III

Friday (Virginia Beach Sportsplex)

North Cross vs. Norfolk Christian, 7 p.m.

Division IV

Friday

Greenbrier Christian at Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot, 7 p.m.

Final stats on some star players

Some high-profile football players saw their high school careers end in last week’s opening round of the playoffs. Here’s a look at some of their final numbers:

Great Bridge’s Adriell Mayes

Mayes finished the season with 327 carries for 2,092 rushing yards and 27 TDs. He had 165 rushing yards in the playoff to Lake Taylor, giving him 100-plus yards in all 11 games. He had at least one touchdown in every game – until being held scoreless vs. Lake Taylor. In two seasons, Mayes finished with 3,720 rushing yards.

Ocean Lakes’ Eli Harold

Harold, a one-man wrecking crew on both sides of the ball, finished with more than 1,000 yards of total offense (passing, rushing and receiving). On the ground he had 301 yards and 11 TDs; he caught 41 passes for 689 yards and four scores. Harold is headed to Virginia.

And a guy who will be back next season …

Lakeland’s Raekwon Johnson

Johnson, pressed into QB duties after a season-ending injury to Zach Super, turned in a spectacular junior year. He rushed for 175 yards in a playoff loss to Norcom and finished with 1,651 rushing yards. He also threw for 596 yards. 

- Jami Frankenberry

Lake Taylor-Great Bridge recap, Deep Creek searching for new coach

It was total domination by Lake Taylor on Saturday night in its 52-20 win over Great Bridge in the Eastern Region Division 5 quarterfinal.

The Titans (9-1) play host to Phoebus on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the semifinals.

Lake Taylor held Great Bridge running back Adriell Mayes to just 38 yards on 15 carries in the first half. He finished with 165 yards on 32 carries in his final high school game.

“I wasn’t really concerned with (Mayes) because we don’t concentrate on one thing,” said Lake Taylor coach Hank Sawyer, whose team held Great Bridge to just 68 total yards in the first half. “We were concentrating on stopping the run and the passing game. We did what we needed to do.”

The only thing that bothered Sawyer slightly about the outcome was that the Titans allowed two late scores.

“We relaxed a little bit too much when the game got out of hand,” he said. “They have a tendency to relax but we got our focus back.”

Leading the way for the Titans was junior quarterback Donavan Powell. He rushed for 189 yards on just 10 carries, including a 95-yard touchdown run. He also completed one pass for a 12-yard touchdown.

Running back Torrey Palmer rushed for 124 yards on 16 carries. Lake Taylor’s second quarterback, Delmon Williams, completed 9 of 13 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, the Titans were led by linemen Jalyn Holmes and Jamel Spellman who finished with 12 and eight tackles, respectively.

The defense also tipped or knocked down seven passes by Wildcats quarterback Brian Beard.

"We blocked a lot of passes tonight," Sawyer said. "That's what we're trying to do. That's part of the game that's been missing."

Deep Creek searching for new coach

Deep Creek High School is presently looking for a new head varsity football coach.

Send letter of intent and a resume to:

Deep Creek High School

c/o Benny Polk, athletic director

2900 Margaret Booker Drive

Chesapeake, Va. 23323

or email to benny.polk@cpschools.com